74 NOTES ON THE SYMBOLISM OF THE 



Hsing Lung fr ft and is surmounted by marble vases hold- 

 ing paeonies; these suggest the phrase Fu Kuei Ping An 

 1& H I s -2c Happiness, Prosperity, and Peace; a very fine 

 Pa Hsia acts as a water spout at the corner of the terrace, 

 •and below are lightly traced circles o<f "longevity." 



The Imperial Study where the EmperOr keeps his books is 

 called the Yang Hsin Tien ^ *fr j£ Hall where the Heart or 

 Mind is Nourished (the heart of course is looked upon as the 

 seat of the intellect) and is placed to the west of the Palace 

 of Cloudless Heaven. Behind the throne is a screen upon 

 which is carved a seven character "Lu" by Ch'ien Lung, 

 and the book cases are ranged on either side. In an inner 

 apartment a beautifully painted frieze composed of emblems 

 of happiness and longevity runs round the wall. The red 

 sun, symbolical of the Emperor whose light illuminates the 

 kingdom, whose fortune rises higher and higher, as the sun 

 rises in the sky, shines from among pine branches, on the 

 w r est wall appear cranes of longevity and peaches of immorta- 

 lity, panels are carved in a design of bamboo and epiden- 

 drums also symbolical. The bamboo is used in only two of 

 its many meanings, these are 



1. — It does not alter its colour with the seasons, but is evergreen ; 

 the Ruler likewise should not be vacillating, should be 

 uninfluenced by trivialites, as he is in the beginning so 

 should he be in the end, in a word he should be steadfast 

 and unalterable in his virtue. 



2. — It symbolizes the "empty heart," which is ready to receive all 

 goods and virtuous suggestions. So should the Emperor be 

 ready to listen to the advice of his ministers. 



The Lan Hua 13 *E or epidendrum is the symbol of the 

 "Chim Tzu" % ^ or perfect man, Confucius explains its 

 characteristics at length and the Emperor is supposed to 

 possess all its virtues. 



The Imperial bed-room is situated in the Yang Hsin 

 Tien, the yellow curtain of the bed itself is woven in a 

 design of the endless knot known as the Hui Lung Wan Tzu 

 M. II p! ^ while the tops are embroidered with the character 

 Shou for longevity, which also appears written upon a 

 hanging scroll. The doors of the bed are carved with 

 bamboos and the Shou M. 



To the north of this private residence of the Ruler is 

 the I K'un Kung >$*$^ Assist the Earth Palace, residence 

 of the Empress ; it posseses two marvellous screens of carved 

 wood, the first is carved in the design known as Hsi shang 

 mei shao 1? _h M %$ and shows the magpie, bird of joy 

 umong plum blossoms. The allusion lies in a play on words, 

 the idea is that when the eye-brows are lifted, are high, not 



